Pet turtle enters jaws of death

A horrified 8-year-old boy watched as his pet turtle disappeared into an alligator's jaws at a Florida aquarium.

Colton Guthrie had donated his pet red-eared slider, Tomalina, to the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach when the turtle outgrew her home aquarium. Colton's mother told the Northwest Florida Daily News that the family saw workers place Tomalina in an exhibit with other red-eared sliders and an alligator.

Although the alligator had long ignored the other turtles, Brenda Guthrie said the gator ate Tomalina as Colton shouted, "Oh no, alligator, let it go!"

The Gulfarium has apologised to the Guthries and gave them a special meet-and-greet with the dolphins.